Haunted Happenings in Salem

A festive crowd streamed into Salem to celebrate Halloween Wednesday night, dressed in gory and gorgeous costumes, and dancing to DJs and live bands.With most of downtown shutdown to vehicle traffic, revellers of all ages enjoyed the final day of October at New England’s Halloween headquarters.

Click through the gallery for scenes (and awesome costumes) from the entire month of spookiness in Salem.

Brandon Clarke, left, of Roslindale, poses with Lauren Patten, 26, of Belchertown.
Next

Kathy McCabe/Globe Staff

Nick Taber, 28, of Fall River, dressed as TED, while his wife, Kaz, dressed as a mime. The couple listened to a live band on Hawthorne Boulevard.
Next

Kathy McCabe/Globe Staff

Louis Daniel, 3, of Revere, drank while celebrating Halloween in Salem.
Next

Frankenstein was one of the characters on hand for Halloween activities in downtown Salem.
Next

Jim Davis/Globe Staff

One reveler wore this very colorful costume on Halloween night in downtown Salem.
Next

The Boston Globe

Joe Cotreau played his saxophone on downtown Salem’s streets on Halloween night, hoping for some (non-spooky) tips.
Next

Jim Davis/Globe Staff

Salem police officers rode through downtown on bicycles, before dusk’s arrival on Halloween night.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Jason Nguyen, of Maine, gets a professional Halloween makeup mask from Rob Fitz, of Conquest Pictures, based in Derry, New Hampshire.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Salem’s Zombie Family could be found sauntering down Essex Street looking for a fleshy meal. From left to right: Robert, Carole and Holly Recupero, and Dennis Castleton.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

At the top of Washington Street, workers were erecting the Radio 92.9 Stage, the main performance area for live music. Across Federal Street from the stage, workers were finishing setting up a beer garden tent sponsored by Shock Top.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

They call themselves “Witch and Famous.” Sisters Honey Amirault and Susan Amirault Cassidy are on hand downtown to provide directions and advice to tourists. But that’s not all they are good for…
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

They also sing in French! After serenading a group of young French tourists passing through, they all posed for a picture.Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Liberty Street is the place to be for fright, lined with gargoyles, witches, and home to the Frankenstein’s Castle haunted house and candlelit Witch Tours.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Clusters of visitors walk through Salem’s oldest cemetery, the Burying Point, founded in 1637.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Keith Trickett keeps watch over the Burying Point, the final resting place of Justice John Hathorne, one of three magistrates to oversee the Salem Witch Trials.Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Police officers keep a watch on Essex Street. Captain Brian Gilligan expects to have between 150 and 200 officers deployed in downtown Salem for crowd control and safety. "Better to have too many [officers] and have no one show up than have not enough and there be a ton of people,” Gilligan said.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

These South Shore residents didn’t let Hurricane Sandy stand in the way of a trip to the Witch City on Halloween. From left to right: Brian Magoon, Danielle Brodeur, and Jackie and Adrienne Brintnall.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Mason Bergeron flashes a sword and does his best “Blackbeard” impression in front of Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery on Derby Street.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Salem has been called the Halloween Capital of the World. During the month of October, the town is inundated with Halloween enthusiasts from all parts of the country. Take a look at scenes from some the Witch City's signature celebrations.

A gentleman who only identifies himself as “The Balloon Guy” has spent the last 20 Octobers in downtown Salem bringing smiles to children. Here, he presented Emily Belmont, of Brockton, with a balloon flower.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Chris Cassidy, of Milford, looked on as his buddy Matty Corinna had his face painted horror-style by Dave Choquette of Vulgar Expressions Entertainment.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

There’s plenty throughout the city for children and families. The Common was alive with decorations, games, and rides for Family Fun Days.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Melina Olson (front) and her mother, Pia, of Windham, N.H., enjoyed a carousel ride on Salem Common with friend Shelby Dagley, of Salem.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

But where do the adults go for fun in October? Many could be found at the Knight’s of Columbus for the sixth annual Harvest Fest Oct. 20. The event sponsored by Magic Hat Brewery in South Burlington, Vt., featured fine wine and mead and craft beer. Pamplemousse, a European-style market and boutique in downtown Salem, put on the event.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Toasting the Halloween season at Harvest Fest were, left to right, Jaime Nagley, her sister Kristen, and their mother Jean, of Coventry, R.I.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Mitch Alden, of NOW is NOW, based in Portland, Maine, played a solo set at Harvest Fest. At 3 p.m., Salem’s own Qwill took over entertainment duties.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

There was a decent turnout at East India Square for a day of entertainment on the Fountain Stage. The stage, which used to be set up in the fountain, hosts live music every weekend in October.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Local act Millfire Ash, made up of John Waterman (left) and Nick Zaino, played the Fountain Stage.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Salem is the place to be in October for Halloween, witches, history, and more.

Standing on the corner of Route 114 and Essex Street in historic downtown Salem is the Witch House, the 17th Century home of Judge Jonathan Corwin.

His former home is the only structure left standing in Salem with direct ties to the infamous Salem Witch Trials, of which he was one of the presiding magistrates.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Saoirse Callanan, of South Boston, enjoyed a pony ride at Children’s Day.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

The costume contest at Children’s Day began with a pseudo-parade of the contestants around the common.

Marc Gagne (far right) and his brother, Charles, of Wakefield, dressed as the Snow Miser and the Heat Miser of ‘The Year Without a Santa Claus,’ are seen entering the judging area.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

The 15th annual Halloween Children’s Day was held on Saturday on Salem Common, featuring bouncy houses, food vendors, face painting, and rides.

The event, an all-volunteer and donor-driven affair, is known for attracting plenty of locals. It was on the verge of being done away with about 12 years ago when Pastor Phil Wyman and The Gathering at Salem took it over. The interdenominational Christian church now runs it every year.
Next

Costume contest winners from the 8-to 12-year-old age group posed with event founder Dominic Benvenuti. From left to right: drowned-girl Taylor Bolsar, teen wolf Kyle Aguiar, and busy mom and housewife Gina Giangregorio.
Next

Joe Cotreau Jr., or Joe Sax as he’s known around Salem, can be found around the city all month, entertaining the masses with his saxophone and, in his own words, “clowning around downtown.”
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Kathy Plasky (left) and Diane Posila, made the short flight from Connecticut to spend Saturday afternoon on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

It’s known as the Witch City, but Salem has so much more to offer in October than witches and costumes.

Street performers and vendors sprinkle the downtown area with the sounds and smells of a citywide street fair. Events for all ages – from parades and guided tours of the city, to haunted houses and R-rated rock-horror shows – have helped Salem become a premier Halloween destination.

Just this past September, Haunted Happenings was recognized as a Massachusetts Premier Tourism Attraction by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, and as a Top 100 Event in North America by the American Bus Association.

Nick D’Amico (a.k.a Duckie F’Amico) on the left played melodica with bandmate Ryan Davison (a.k.a. The Frog) on the cigar box ukulele. Davison and D’Amico make up two parts of the seven-piece, Boston-based act Froggy and the Friendship.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

City officials expect to see about 250,000 visitors over the course of October for the 31st annual Haunted Happenings, a month-long celebration of everything Halloween. The Essex Street Pedestrian Mall comes alive with music, costumes, and the festive fall atmosphere that made Salem famous.
Next

Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

A large crowd gathered to watch Kilted Colin tell jokes, play the bagpipes, toss knives, and juggle babies atop a 9-foot unicycle in East India Square.
Back to the beginning